Production performance and morphometric analysis of different Boer crossbreeds Aubrey Joy M. Balbin and Jonathan N. Nayga
Cagayan Valley Small Ruminant Research Center, Isabela State University, Philippines
author of correspondence: aubreyjoy.m.balbin[at]isu.edu.ph
Abstract
Upgrading is the process of improving the genetic quality of a goat herd, facilitated by crossbreeding with superior breeds. The aim of upgrading is to enhance desirable traits such as increase meat production, higher milk yield. In this study, female animals identified as 50%Anglo-nubian (AN)-50%Native goat (Nat) served as the maternal line. A purebred Boer(B) was utilized for the production until third generation to produce F3- 87B-6.5AN-6.5N, which is considered as the terminal cross. Production data such as body weight at birth weight, weaning weight (weight at 90 days old), market weight (slaughter weight), type of birth, external body measurements (wither^s height, rump height, body length, flank girth at market weight) and coat color were gathered for analysis and animal characterization. The activity was participated by 32 farms utilizing data of 556 heads of animals. The production performance, F3 Boer crossbred group reached birth weight of 2.8 kg, weaning weight of 15.27 kg and slaughter weight of 29.1 kg. The external body measurement reveals that although F2 animals was observed to be the longest at 27 inches, F3 Boer crossbred appeared to be bulkier at 27.71-inches measurement of girth, respectively. In terms of height, F3 animals appears as the tallest 25.29 inches WH and 26.5 inches RH. The Pearson^s correlation revealed that F3 Boer crossbred goat has a positive highly significant difference WH (r=0.864**), RH (r=0.882**), FG (r=0.932**) and BL (0.956*8). Based from the result of the obtained, it can be concluded that organized upgrading can be effective method animal genetic improvement program in the rural areas.
Keywords: goat, upgrading, Boer, production performance, morphometric data
